Halifax, Canada
Saint Mary’s University: English test requirements
Undergraduate entry has one set of minimum scores. Graduate entry has a university minimum, with higher IELTS and TOEFL scores for some programmes in a programme list and higher PTE and Duolingo scores for a named group of programmes.
Checked on 2 Nov 2026 against the university's own pages. Universities change their requirements, and some courses ask for more. Always confirm on the university's page before you book a test or apply.
IELTS
UG 6.5
PG from 6.5
TOEFL iBT
UG 83
PG from 83
PTE Academic
UG 58
PG from 60
Duolingo English Test
UG 115
PG from 125
Undergraduate
Graduation from an English-language secondary school, or three years in a Canadian, British or American-patterned secondary school taught and examined in English, also meets the requirement. A university preparatory English programme at one of six named Languages Canada-accredited schools is accepted and earns six hours of advanced standing credit.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic or IELTS Online Indicator | 6.5 | no individual score below 6.0 | Accepted |
| TOEFL iBT | Listening 4.5, no other band below 4.0 (tests taken after January 2026) / 83 (tests taken January 2026 or earlier) | new scale: Listening 4.5, other bands 4.0. Older tests: no band below 20 | AcceptedNo overall figure is given for the new scale. Paper-based TOEFL (minimum 550) is accepted for tests taken January 2026 or earlier. |
| Pearson PTE | 58 | no sub-score minimum listed | Accepted |
| Duolingo English Test (DET) | 115 | no sub-score below 95 | Accepted |
| Cambridge B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency | 176 | no individual score below 169 | Accepted |
| CAEL | 60 | no individual score below 50 | Accepted |
“If English is not your first language, you may need to provide your scores from an English language proficiency test.”
Undergraduate language requirements
Graduate
Exempt with a degree of at least three years taught in English from a listed exempted country (two years for a 2+2 exchange completed in Canada), a graduate degree from an exempted country, or a three-year degree taught solely in English elsewhere with a certified letter from the registrar. Scores older than two years are not accepted and must come from one exam date. English preparation courses from other institutions are not accepted. TOEFL code 0958. The higher-score programmes are taken from the programme list PDF (dated July 2024) and the higher PTE and Duolingo list on the graduate page.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University minimum (programmes without higher requirements)e.g. MA in Criminology, MA in History, Master of Finance, Master of Business Analytics (MBAN), MSc in AstronomySource for this group | 6.5no individual score below 6.0 | Listening 4.5, no other band below 4.0 (tests taken after January 2026) / 83 (tests taken January 2026 or earlier)new scale: Listening 4.5, other bands 4.0. Older tests: no band below 20No overall figure is given for the new scale. Paper-based TOEFL (minimum 550) is listed for tests taken January 2026 or earlier. | 60no sub-score less than 50 | 125no sub-score less than 105 |
| MA in Global Development Studiese.g. MA in Global Development StudiesSource for this group | 6.5no band below 6.0 | 90no band below 20The programme list gives only the 0-120 figure; no figure on the new 1-6 scale is published for this programme. | 66no sub-score less than 60 | 130no sub-score less than 110 |
| Master of Technology Entrepreneurship & Innovatione.g. Master of Technology Entrepreneurship & InnovationSource for this group | 7.0no band below 6.5 | 92no band below 20The programme list gives only the 0-120 figure; no figure on the new 1-6 scale is published for this programme. | 66no sub-score less than 60 | 130no sub-score less than 110 |
| MBA, PhD in Global Development Studies and PhD in Applied Sciencee.g. MBA, MBA (CPA Stream), PhD in Global Development Studies, PhD in Applied ScienceSource for this group | 7.0no band below 6.5 | 100no band below 20The programme list gives only the 0-120 figure; no figure on the new 1-6 scale is published for this programme. | 66no sub-score less than 60 | 130no sub-score less than 110 |
| PhD in Business Administratione.g. PhD in Business AdministrationSource for this group | 7.0no band below 6.5 | 100Writing 22, Reading 21, Speaking 27, Listening 20The programme list gives only the 0-120 figure; no figure on the new 1-6 scale is published for this programme. | 66no sub-score less than 60 | 130no sub-score less than 110 |
| PhD in I/O Psychology and PhD in Astronomye.g. PhD in I/O Psychology, PhD in AstronomySource for this group | 7.0no band below 6.5 | 100no band below 20The programme list gives only the 0-120 figure; no figure on the new 1-6 scale is published for this programme. | Not on the listNo PTE figure is published for these programmes: they set higher IELTS and TOEFL scores but are not named in the graduate page's higher PTE list. | Not on the listNo Duolingo figure is published for these programmes: they set higher IELTS and TOEFL scores but are not named in the graduate page's higher Duolingo list. |
University minimum (programmes without higher requirements), other tests: Cambridge B2 First, C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency 176; CAEL 60
“In exceptional circumstances, the Faculty of Graduate Studies & Research reserves the right to request an official English Language Proficiency Test.”
Graduate Studies language requirements
Other tests the university lists
- Trinity College London ISE: 96 overall, no skill below 90 (undergraduate)
- Completion of a university preparatory English programme at a recognised partner school (undergraduate)
- CanTEST: 4.5, no individual score below 4.0 (graduate)
The page says these are not accepted
- University English preparation courses from another institution (graduate)
- Scores older than two years (graduate)
- Scores combined from more than one exam date (graduate)
“Not on the list” means the test does not appear on the university page we checked. It does not mean the test is refused: the course page or the admissions office may still accept it, so ask them.
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